In 2026, the Offender Database recorded that Joao-Carlos Jardim Dos Santos Teixeira, then 26, of Eastbourne, East Sussex, was jailed for more than 11 years for running multiple online child abuse chat groups. On Tuesday, 17 February 2026, Teixeira appeared at Lewes Crown Court for sentencing. The court reported that the defendant was a central figure in digital networks dedicated to sharing and discussing child sexual abuse material, including hyper-realistic AI-generated imagery.
The investigation established that National Crime Agency (NCA) officers arrested Teixeira at his home address in February 2024. Upon seizing his devices, detectives identified almost 20,000 indecent and prohibited images. The NCA reported that over 1,000 of these were graded as Category A, the most serious level. Evidence also showed Teixeira participated in “secret chats” involving pseudo-prohibited images and had encouraged another online user to engage in sexual activity with a 13-year-old boy.
Judicial Findings and Investigative Detail
The court reported that Teixeira displayed a “persistent and dangerous” commitment to offending. Lewes Crown Court heard that after being released on bail following his initial arrest, the defendant was arrested again in November 2025 for continuing to offend online. The judge noted that his involvement in AI-generated child abuse material represented a modern and “profoundly disturbing” facet of child exploitation.
The judge noted that Teixeira pleaded guilty to all charges in December 2025, yet the scale of his digital library and his incitement of others necessitated a significant custodial term. For his actions in Eastbourne, East Sussex, he was handed a sentence of 11 years and 4 months. The prosecution reported that the high volume of Category A material and his flagrant disregard for bail conditions were heavy aggravating factors in the final sentencing decision.
Sentence and Statutory Requirements
For his crimes in England, Joao-Carlos Jardim Dos Santos Teixeira was handed:
- Custodial Sentence: 11 years and 4 months in prison.
- Sex Offenders Register: Notification requirements are in effect for life.
- SHPO: A lifelong Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) with strict digital monitoring.
- Judicial Oversight: Sentenced at Lewes Crown Court following an NCA investigation.
Monitoring and Public Protection
Teixeira is managed under Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements (MAPPA) by the National Crime Agency, Sussex Police, and the prison estate. Due to the “sophisticated and international” nature of his online chat groups in Eastbourne, East Sussex, his management is subject to the highest level of oversight by the Public Protection Unit.
As a member of the Sex Offenders Register, Teixeira must comply with notification requirements regarding his residence in Eastbourne for the rest of his life. Authorities state that his history of reoffending while on bail necessitates absolute and permanent restrictions on his internet usage and device ownership. Any breach of his registration conditions, his lifelong SHPO, or his licence terms upon release will result in immediate arrest and a return to Lewes Crown Court.
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